Messmate is otherwise known as Eucalyptus obliqua and is often grouped with Tasmanian Oak and Victorian Ash at the timber yard. This species is widespread in the southeastern regions of Australia and can grow up to 90m tall in a wide range of soils. A quintessential piece of character filled Messmate timber is heavily featured with gum veins, well defined rings and a course grain. The colour of the Messmate timber ranges from a pale brown to light yellow with a hint of peach. Other than furniture making, Messmate also has a range of uses in construction and protected outdoor areas.
As each piece of Messmate timber is so unique, we ask our clients to let us know the level of natural character they prefer as part of the custom order process. To provide an easy to care surface, we fill the sap lines / gum veins with black resin to further accentuate the natural features of Messmate timber and leave the surface completely smooth.
We primarily work with recycled Messmate as we prefer to source timber that has low travel miles and is readily available from our local timber suppliers. Generally, recycled Messmate has been salvaged from residential and commercial building sites in the Geelong, Otway & Melbourne regions prior to be being re-milled and repurposed. One of the added bonuses of working with salvaged timber is that you can occassionally see the original ‘recycled’ features such as nail / pin holes etc. from its previous life!
‘Bellbrae’ Bespoke Buffet in recycled Messmate - Medium Feature
Typical grain / natural features of Messmate
Bespoke ‘Tathra’ Floating Vanity in recycled Messmate - Medium Feature
‘Luna’ Floating TV Unit in recycled Messmate - Medium Feature
Bespoke ‘Addis’ Floating Vanity in recycled Messmate - High Feature
We are also able to source newly harvested Messmate from our local Victorian timber suppliers. Similar to Austalian Wormy Chestnut timber, New Messmate is a sustainable timber choice and is readily available. Overall, new Messmate timber has very similar natural character features to recycled Messmate (gum veins, sap lines etc,) but tends to have slightly less colour / tone variation. New Messmate timber is also a very cost effective / budget friendly option for furniture making as newly harvested timbers generally require less work (than recycled timbers) at the timber yard (removal of nails etc.) prior to dispatch.
New Messmate timber
‘Jarosite’ Modern Steel Leg Dining Table with 40mm thick new Messmate top - Medium Feature
Contact us below to discuss your next custom furniture project or request a new or recycled Messmate timber sample to be posted out to you!